Multiple contact jack



Jam 27 1948. A. .1. GARrJEu-lolm` l 2,435,136

MULTI-[PLE CONTACT JACK Filed My 28,v 194e 2 Sheets-Sheet l di' rdezzazg:

Jan. 27, 1948. A 1 GARDENHOUR 2,435,136

MULTIPLE CONTACT JACK Filed May 28, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 2` /7 Zd Z/ Patented Jan. 27, 1948 PHC-*1E `1 "This-invention relates 'to electricalfcormectors, and more particularlysto a imultiplefrcntact :jack 'type of connecting apparatus In 4setting -up electrical units :or in .preparing :electr-ical lapparaims for testing where circuits are to'be connected inrmanyfvvariediand"complicated combinations `a -fgivenv 'sequencaiicon- -1siderabletime and =e1ort=lisirequirediby amener-- ator to make, break and-reconnectlthelfcircuits Vinto-the desired combinations.

An object of this invention -iis togprovide -a simple, efic-ient and highly practica-lconnecting fappara'tus Afor 'instantly land selectively est-,afblishing different predetermined -eomb-ina-tions -o'f electricalcircuits.

`With this "and other'objectsin View, the invention comprises two spaced-opposing dielectric "members -orjpanels, each having 1ati-plurality -of vrows of iresiliently :mounted ,Contact p'lungers 'ex vtending toward each other 'between'the spaced dielectric panels and having individualterminals on the outside .of the. panels connected Ato'the contactplungers and wired together into :different desired and independent,combinationsofgcircuits. The various rows .of opposing .contact plungers are aligned with a pluralityof spaced jack bushings mounted in a casing ,0r `Allanel secured tothe twodielectric members. A.meta'l plug is selectivelyinsertedintoany oneojithe `jack bushings to `force the ...Contact 4-plnngers apart in .a .particularrowtginto intimateeontact with .themetal plug .to connect ^instantly a lplurality-.of independent .wiresinte apredetermined combination circuit, which iseone of. many possible combinations made available.

Other objects andadvantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction .with vthe .accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan View :of theeonnecting I' y2 of any suitable insulating material, "which-:are spaced apart iby `fleur-.sleeves l2. Inserted within .theseleeneseandpassing through the .twoudielecrtric panels lMl I l are headed bolts |:3 n.Whichfare threaded at `their vlower. ends 'to receive:mits I4-I5, the latter acting as lock nuts. :Positioned zarolmdzthe, lower portion "of the 'bolts-.l 3 fbetween thelower-surtace `of the panel y*Il and thezupner .suriaceeofanuts ifld are helical coil tspringswl 'whichpermit resilient movement :betW-.een-thextwo -insulatingpanels 'tw-1I yI :A plurality :of =plunger contacts 111 #are spaced apart; and arranged `in .opposing rows in'lholes provided 'fthe panels Ylill-11. Eaoh-fof 'the `plunger contactsiis made @of -any suitable Ymetal Jprovided with an -integral-contact head 118 vatone `end and Vva threaded portionat the other Vend-on which `are-secured two -nuts IS-2:0 `with-a Wire terminal 2l clamped therebetween. Positioned around the Shanks of the plunger-s-H-andbetween one of the opposing surfacesof the panels lU-I I `and the contactheads-lI-B of the 4plungers are coil springs '-22 which prov-ide resilient `support and permit the conta-ct plungersV I1 yto be `forcedaway fromeach;other.

f AS shown in rFig. 4, an independent wire-ter- -minal23 is 'secured inthe panels atthe'end ,of

each row `of contacts `by a'machine screw-24 Aand two nuts 25 to provide for a more Varied vcombination in the setting I ipofgelectrical circuits.

"The assembly of rows of .opposingzplunger cont,acts,shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 4, is ,secured toa panel or casing 26 by four brackets `2'l-"2. .Mountedinfholes inthe casing 26 vin alignment with the Marionsrows of. opposing plunger con- 4tacts .Il .are -aseries of insulated jack bushings `129 .forreceiving and. guiding. a switch. member 3.5! of `.the plug type .which Yisinseltedin. anydesired rows.betweenftheopposing plunger .contacts I?! to yinterconnect themiasshown inFig. 4.

. Ea-chef; the insulatedjackbushings 279 ,('Egfl .nisprorided witnan integral collar portionel, -Ni/hielfi `enga-ges the :gouter :.iace -of the casing Aor lpanel 26,; :andiaithreaded shank .-32 Vpnrifdiich; ;is threaded-ia sleeve233.andY a l lock nut The threaded v:sleereglljl xengagesfthe, innervsurace :of the casing 2B and holds the bushing L2.9.-in-rigid alignment `with Aa row :ofwt-he spring -fpressed opposing plungerfcontacts f-l'l. A guidelbushing is provided ioreach `row of oontacts- The ilou-shings are elongated sufllciently to hold the plugr accurately in line with the corresponding series of contacts.

The plug or switch member 30 has secured to connected into various predetermined circuitcombination by electrical wiring 36 and connected to any electrical units to be tested or controlled as desired. Then by inserting the switch member or plug 30 through one of the another jack bushing 29, an entirely separate combination of circuits is set up. Thus various and separate combinations of circuits can be selected by inserting the plug 30 into the plurality of jack bushings 29 to interconnect particular rows of plunger contacts Il and predetermined wire terminals 2l connected thereto.

The embodiment of the invention herein clisclosed is merely illustrative and may be modied and departed from in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as deiined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connecting apparatus including two dielectric members, means for supporting the dielectric members in spaced relationship, plunger contacts resiliently mounted in each of the dielectric members and arranged in a plurality of spaced opposed rows, and conducting means selectively insertable in any row between opposed plunger contacts to interconnect them through the conducting means.

2. An electrical connecting apparatus including opposed spaced dielectric members, terminals spaced apart in an aligned row on the outer surface of each dielectric member, spring pressed plungers connected to said terminals and projecting through the dielectric members to form a row of opposed contacts therebetween, and a removable switch member insertable in the row between the opposed plungers to interconnect them into a predetermined combination circuit.

3. An electrical connecting apparatus including a pair of insulating members, resilient means for supporting the insulating members in spaced relationship and permitting relative movement therebetween, electrical contacts mounted in the insulating members and extending towards each other, and a removable conducting plug insertable between the opposed electrical contacts to interconnect them.

4. An electrical connector comprising a dielectric member, a plurality of resiliently mounted-10 spaced contacts arranged in a plurality of rows 4 in the dielectric member, and having individual terminals adapted to be connected to electrical circuits, a plurality of insulated jack bushings mounted in alignment with the rows of contacts and a metal plug selectively insertable through any one of the jack bushings into engagement with a selected row of the resiliently mounted contacts to interconnect the contacts through the metal plug to form a combination circuit.

5. An electrical connecting apparatus including spaced dielectric members mounted for movevnient relative to each other, plunger contacts mounted in the dielectric members in opposed rows and having terminal ends adapted to be connected to electrical units in a plurality of combination circuits, springs engageable with the plunger contacts to maintain the contacts in a normal position, and means selectively positionable between any one of the rows of opposed contacts to force them apart against the action of their springs and interconnect them into one of the said combination circuits.

6. In a multiple contact jack type of connecting apparatus, a casing, a plurality of spaced jack bushings mounted in the casing, a plurality of rows of spaced resiliently mounted and insulated contacts arranged in opposed rows in individual alignment with the jack bushings, and a conducting plug selectively insertable in any one of the jack bushings to engage and interconnect the opposed contacts in that row.

7. An electrical switching device comprising a pair of dielectric members, means for supporting the dielectric members in spaced parallel relationship, a plurality of resiliently mounted contacts carried in the dielectric members and forming opposed rows therebetween, and a conducting switch member adapted to be forced between the opposed resiliently mounted contacts in any row to interconnect them through the switch member. l

8. An electrical connector comprising a panel, a plurality of spaced jack bushings insulatively mounted in the panel, a pair of dielectric members secured in spaced relationship to the panel, a plurality oi rows of opposed resiliently mounted contacts carried in the dielectric members in alignment with the spaced jack bushings, conductor connecting terminals positioned on the outer surface of each dielectric member and individually connected to the contacts, and a plug having a conducting portion selectively insertable into anyone of the jack bushings to engage and electrically interconnect the opposed contacts in that row.

ALLEN J. GARDENHOUR.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

